NORTH COUNTY Merger talks take look of lip service

January 10, 2026

Urgency is always an issue for municipal governments when it comes to planning at the start of the new year. Both the city of Dunkirk and village of Fredonia, however, owe it to their residents — even with new representation — to be more accountable after recent budget train wrecks that upped taxes 84% and 54%. Since that time, both entities have talked about consolidations that would involve the fire and police departments. Unsurprisingly, this issue seems stalled. Both departments, we must note, carry some of the highest expenses in both municipal budgets. In Dunkirk, the cost ...

COUNTY: Getting it right with the public

January 8, 2026

We often criticize a lack of action and results by Chautauqua County legislators in this corner. Most of it is deserved, but we do have to give the 19 members credit for being attentive to the public. In December, The New York State Coalition on Open Government released its Naughty and Nice list in its annual holiday season attempt to highlight failures in government transparency. Paul Wolf, president emeritus of the organization, offered a presentation online about the list. He said Democrats and Republicans in governments across New York State “are equally bad” when it comes to ...

COUNTY: Airport restaurant may bring traffic

January 7, 2026

County officials have spent the past several years trying to talk up the amount of activity at the Chautauqua County Airport at Jamestown. Those efforts have been part of efforts to both balance the airport operation’s budget and to convince the federal government to reinstate the Essential Air Service subsidy that would allow commercial air service to resume at the airport. We’ve heard about private flights for Cummins, the National Comedy Center, Chautauqua Institution and other area companies. The success of a new restaurant at the airport would say as much about the number ...

DUNKIRK: Cutting $20,500 is not even a dent

January 6, 2026

One of the most controversial pieces to Mayor Kate Wdowiasz’s 2026 budget proposal released last October was a $20,500 pay increase for her position. That was not approved and her annual salary remains at $54,500. That cut to the 2026 plan, in the larger picture, is very minimal. Dunkirk’s total expenditures are $29 million. According to seethroughny.net, there are 186 employees on the city payroll that totals $10.5 million. None of those costs, however, are being controlled due to contracts and generous benefits. As we have noted in the past, those are the big bucks that no ...

Cassadaga: Quick goodbye no fitting farewell

January 5, 2026

No good deed goes unpunished, at least in the village of Cassadaga. When Sam Alaimo, Department of Public Works supervisor, was charged by the county Sheriff’s Department with criminal mischief in June at a local business, elected leaders let him continue in the post. That was a poor choice, if there was enough for charges to be levied, the chief could have been suspended. Last week, Alaimo did the village no favors. He tendered a vocal resignation, leaving the village in a bit of a bind. To be fair, trustees had admitted some items were not being taken care of by the director. ...

BUFFALO SPORTS Magical moments close out holidays

January 3, 2026

It is a historic weekend for Buffalo sports. On Saturday afternoon, the Sabres go for an unbelievable 11th straight win when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets while on Sunday at 4:25 p.m., it is likely the final game for the Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. For the Sabres, a team that has missed the playoffs for 14 years, the recent winning streak has boosted hopes and ticket sales. The 4-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Dec. 27 had KeyBank Center rocking. That’s been a very unusual happening during the last decade of hockey that has been filled with last-place finishes ...